[PDF-314k]Of the 28 freest presidential democracies, 21 require the president to
win with a majority of votes. Two more mandate presidents be elected
with relatively high minimum pluralities. Only five allow pure
plurality winners. One of them, the United States, permits the winner
of the popular vote to lose the election through an Electoral College
system. The 23 countries with majority and minimum plurality
requirements all employ runoff elections. 22 use delayed runoff
elections and one, Ireland, builds both rounds into one with instant
runoff voting (IRV).

Each method has implications for voter choice, quality of campaigning
and respect for majority rule. This report examines each system and its
implications by way of description and case studies.